蜜桃交友

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

鈥淵esterday, I received a letter from a sister who works as a Sign Language interpreter for the deaf.鈥� These were the words with which Pope Francis began the Saturday morning liturgy in the Chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.

He continued, saying he has come to understand how difficult it is for health care providers to care for persons with difficulties. 鈥淪o let us pray for those who are always at the service of these persons with various disabilities鈥�.

In his homily, Pope Francis focused on the boldness with which the Apostles preached the Gospel after Pentecost. His inspiration came from the first Reading in which the chief priests, elders and scribes were astonished at the 鈥渂oldness鈥� of Peter and John (Acts 4:13-21).

Boldness

Peter and John 鈥� two 鈥渦neducated men鈥� 鈥� pushed the chief priests, the scribes and the elders into a corner specifically because of their boldness. The religious authorities were so astonished that they could not respond to the very facts before their eyes. A man had been healed when Peter and John had called on the name of the Lord.

Pope Francis drew attention to the importance of the Greek word, parrhesia. It is often translated as boldness, frankness, or courage. It became 鈥渢he style of Christian preachers in the Acts of the Apostles鈥�, the Pope said.

鈥淚t is that Christian courage which drives someone to speak openly鈥�. For example, in the Acts of the Apostles, it says that Paul and Barnabas sought to explain the mystery of Christ to the Hebrews with boldness and preached the Gospel boldly鈥�.

Don鈥檛 throw your confidence away

Parrhesia is so characteristic of Christians, said the Pope, that if a Christian does not possess it, 鈥測ou are not a good Christian鈥�. Then he quoted a passage from the Letter to the Hebrews, which the Pope said he 鈥渓ikes a lot鈥�. The author becomes aware that the Christian community has begun to lose their original boldness. They had become tepid. 鈥淩emember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering鈥� Therefore, do not throw away your confidence鈥� (Heb 10:32, 35).

That boldness, however, meets with the hardened, closed, corrupt hearts of the chief priests, scribes and elders.

鈥淭hey do not know what to do鈥�. They remained astonished鈥� Instead of accepting the truth that they saw before them, their hearts were so closed that they chose the way of diplomacy, the way of compromise. They had really been backed into a corner because of their boldness. They did not know how to get out of the situation. It never entered their mind to say: 鈥楥ould this be true?鈥欌��

What changed cowardly Peter?

Their way out is to threaten Peter and John, and order them never to speak or teach in Jesus鈥檚 name again. The Apostles' response is incredibly bold given the fact that Peter had cowardly denied Jesus so recently. 鈥淵ou must judge whether in God's eyes it is right to listen to you and not to God. We cannot promise to stop proclaiming what we have seen and heard鈥� (v. 19). 鈥淲hat happened to the heart of this man?鈥� the Pope asked.

鈥淭he gift of the Holy Spirit: frankness, courage, parrhesia, is a gift, a grace that the Holy Spirit gives to him on the day of Pentecost. Right after having received the Holy Spirit they went out to preach courageously, something new for them鈥�.

Mark of a Christian

The Lord rebukes His disciples in the Gospel (Mark 16:9-15) precisely because of their 鈥渦nbelief and hardness of heart鈥�, the Pope continued. They had refused to believe that He had risen based on the word of those who had seen Him. They receive the courage necessary to 鈥済o out to the whole world to proclaim the good news to all creation鈥� when Jesus gives them the 鈥渟trength of the Holy Spirit鈥�, saying to them 鈥淩eceive the Holy Spirit鈥�.

鈥淭he mission begins right here, from this gift that makes us courageous, bold in proclaiming the Word.

The Pope鈥檚 prayer

Pope Francis concluded his homily with a prayer.

鈥淢ay the Lord help us to always be like that: courageous. This does not mean imprudent 鈥� no, no. Courageous. The Christian鈥檚 courage is always prudent, but courageous鈥�.